Compare India’s Holy Ganges River: Rituals, History and the Sacred City of Varanasi by Road Scholar vs Family India Golden Triangle Adventure by Explore!

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrival Kolkata, Check-In
Kolkata The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata Hotel
Activity note: 2:00 p.m. hotel check-in available. Arrivals throughout the day. There is no official programming on this day. in Kolkata, we will be meeting up with Road Scholar Group #21644, "A Spiritual and Cultural Journey: India’s Golden Triangle and Holy Ganges River." The group will have just completed the Golden Triangle in Jaipur and will now be joining our group in Kolkata and the duration of our trip up the Ganges River.

Afternoon: Flight arrivals to Kolkata are usually in the late afternoon or early evening. Once you have gone through immigration and customs, enter the main arrivals hall. A Road Scholar representative will meet you and coordinate the transfer from the airport to the program hotel in Kolkata. Later today in Kolkata, we will be meeting up with Road Scholar Group #21644, "A Spiritual and Cultural Journey: India’s Golden Triangle and Holy Ganges River." The group will have just completed the Golden Triangle in Jaipur and will now be joining our group as we cruise on the Ganges River

Dinner: On our own. Due to arrivals throughout the day and evening, dinner is not provided today. The hotel has a selection off restaurants, bar and room service. The Group Leader will also be happy to provide suggestions.

Evening: At leisure, relax after a very long day of travel.

Day 3
Orientation, Jain Temple, Kumortuli, Tagore's Home
Kolkata B,L,D The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata Hotel
Activity note: Today’s visit is by metro, coach and rickshaw rides. Up to 2 miles walking today. When visiting the Jain Temple, shoes will need to be removed, you may want to bring an extra pair of socks.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet with bottled water, coffee/tea included; additional beverages available for purchase.

Morning: Immediately after breakfast convene at the hotel with other participants for our Program Orientation. We will gather in our private meeting room where the Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to local circumstances or weather. River conditions and water levels could affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We board our private motorcoach and depart for Bengali Kolkata with a visit to the Jain Temple, one of the most revered and holy shrines of the Jains in Kolkata. The temple is known not only for its beauty but also for its spiritual atmosphere that attracts a lot of faithful devotees. Next we will board a tram and continue to explore Kumortuli, a Potters colony where large Hindu Gods are created by the community there. Then explore the Shobhabazar (also spelled Sovabazar) grounds, one of the oldest royal houses of Kolkata aristocracy. Afterwards, board our motorcoach and depart for lunch at nearby restaurant.

Lunch: At a local restaurant with bottled water, coffee/tea; additional beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: After lunch board our motorcoach for a field trip to Explore Jurasanko Thakurbari (Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house), now a museum dedicated to the life and works of India’s greatest modern poet and Nobel Laureate. Return to the hotel for dinner.

Dinner: 'Welcome Buffet Dinner' with bottled water, coffee/tea included; additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Mother Teresa's Orphanage, Embark Ship, Colonial Kolkata
Kalna B,L,D RV Bengal Ganga
Activity note: Walking .5 miles, mainly on even surfaces with a few steps up. Embark ship in afternoon. Sail throughout the night towards Kalna.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and board our motorcoach for a field trip to Mother Teresa’s House. Spend the morning learning about Mother Teresa and her mission in India. Visit the Mission of Charity Foundation and gain a deeper understanding of this unique woman and her cause. Return to the motorcoach and we depart for the Jetty in Kolkata to embark the ship.

Lunch: On board the ship.

Afternoon: After lunch board our motorcoach for an excursion to drive past British Colonial Kolkata. We explore Dalhousie Square that houses several Colonial/Heritage monuments like Writer’s Building, General Post Office, High Court, Raj Bhawan (Governor’s Palace), Town Hall, Council House, Treasury Building and the Reserve Bank of India. We then visit St. John’s Church and the Victoria Memorial for a photo stop and walk in the gardens. St. John’s Church, originally a cathedral, which was among the first public buildings erected by the East India Company after Kolkata became the effective capital of British India. It was modeled according to the St Martin-in-the-Fields of London. The Victoria Memorial is a grand marble building built during 1906-1921 in the memory of Queen Victoria (1819–1901). The Memorial lies on the Maidan (grounds) by the bank of the Hooghly River. Return to the rivership to caste off for Kalna. Once aboard and checked in to our cabins, we will meet in the saloon for safety briefing.

Dinner: Ship introduction and evening briefing at the Saloon Bar for briefing on next days program. 'Welcome Dinner' on board the ship with bottled water, coffee/tea; additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Post dinner tea/coffee served in the saloon. Our upstream journey towards Kalna sails through the areas where the different European settlers had established their respective East Indian Companies leaving back reminiscence of their settlements during the period of 17th to 19th century.

Day 5
Kalna, Sail to Matiari
Matiari B,L,D RV Bengal Ganga
Activity note: While sailing on the Ganges River we will have on-shore excursions throughout the cruise. Depending on the water levels, some locations will have a jetty to disembark while others may require small boats to go ashore. Today sail Kalna to Matiari. In Kalna, take a 10 minute cycle rickshaw ride to and from the temple complex. Walking in approximately 1 hour inside temple complex with mainly even surfaces and a few steps to climb up. Moor overnight near Matiari.

Breakfast: Early morning tea/coffee served on sundeck. Breakfast on board in the dining room.

Morning: After lunch we ride cycle rickshaws to visit the enchanting Rajbari Temple complex in Kalna. The temples of Kalna take elements from mosques and temple architecture to create a new congregational space of worship. On one side of the road lies the Nabakailas Temples. Built in 1809 by the Bardhaman Maharaja, it contains 108 'aat-chala' or “eight slope-roofed” Shiva temples arranged in two concentric circles. The outer circle consists of 74 temples of alternate black and white lingams; while the 34 temples of the inner circle have only white lingams. On the other side of the road lies a walled complex, containing the most diversified form of Bengal’s temple architecture: Pratapeshwar Temple, contains terra cotta plaques depicting themes of Hindu epics and mythical life of saints, gods & goddesses and various aspects of day-to-day life. The other notable temples here are the Lalji temple, Krishnachandra temple and the flat roofed temple of Giri Govardhan. Return to the ship and cruise towards Matiari.

Lunch: On board.

Afternoon: Rest and relax on the rooftop sundeck and observe life along the Ganges river. Enjoy a talk about India on board the ship with an onboard guide.

Dinner: Evening briefing at the Saloon Bar for briefing on next days program. Dinner on board the ship.

Evening: Tea/coffee served. Rest and relax or enjoy a documentary film presentation at the Saloon Bar. Arrive nearby Matiari and moor for the night.

Day 6
Matiari Pottery Village, Plassey, Sail to Murshidabad
Murshidabad B,L,D RV Bengal Ganga
Activity note: Shore excursion in Matiari, limited walking around the village. Sail from Matiari to Murshidabad. Arrive Murshidabad and moor for the night.

Breakfast: Early morning Tea/Coffee served. Breakfast on board in the dining room.

Morning: Early in the morning we will visit the village of Matiari, which is famous for its work in brass and copper. Here copper is still processed manually. The unique character of the area is that as we start walking towards the village, we can hear loud noises of beating metal coming from all the houses. Stroll in the village and visit some homes to see and experience the different process of the brass making with a chance of buying artifacts and souvenirs. Return to the ship for breakfast. We will cast off towards Murshidabad, sailing past Plassey, which is well known for the battle that took place in 1757 that turned the history of India. The battlefield of Plassey is where Robert Clive of British East India Company defeated the Mogul Nawab, the then ruler of Bengal and his French Allies; establishing the company rule in India which expanded over much of South Asia for the next 190 years.

Lunch: On board the ship.

Afternoon: Relax on the sundeck and enjoy India at its most idyllic as we cruise towards Murshidabad. Enjoy a talk about India on board the ship with an onboard guide.

Dinner: Evening briefing at the Saloon Bar for briefing on next days program. Dinner on board the ship.

Evening: Arrive at Murshidabad and moor for the night. Tea/coffee served. Enjoy a cultural dance program, combining traditional/classical dances from students of a nearby dance school of the region. The performance will be held on board the ship.

Day 7
Murshidabad, Sail to Jangipur
Jangipur B,L,D RV Bengal Ganga
Activity note: Shore excursion to Murshidabad. Total walking today 1.5 miles, around Katra Mosque and to and from museum and around temple grounds. Sail Murshidabad to Jangipur and moor nearby for the night.

Breakfast: Early morning Tea/Coffee served. Breakfast on board in the dining room.

Morning: After breakfast, we will disembark ship and ride a local Tonga (horse cart) to the Katra Mosque, a historically important center for Islamic learning in the 1700's. The word ‘Katra’ means a market and the name was given to the mosque owing to the fact that the place had a large market around the mosque during that time. The mosque is also the final resting place of Nawab Murshid Quli Khan who lies buried in a tomb under the 14 flight of steps leading to the courtyard. Next we ride the Tonga (horse cart) to explore the the Hazarduari Palace grounds and museum. Built during the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah (1824-1838 AD) by an English architect, Duncan McLeod following the Greek “Doric” style. The palace has more than a thousand real and false doors in the vast corridors. Inside the palace museum one can observe a wide collection of antiquities including various kinds of weapons, oil paintings of Dutch, French and Italian artists, marble, porcelain & stucco statues, rare manuscripts and palanquins mostly belonging to the 18th-19th centuries. Opposite to the Palace is the vast Imambara open only during the religious ceremony time. Return to the ship for lunch and sailing onwards to Jangipur.

Lunch: On board the ship.

Afternoon: Rest and relax and take in the views of life along the Ganges River. Enjoy a talk about the Holy Ganges River and its importance to India, led by our Group Leader.

Dinner: Evening briefing at the Saloon Bar for briefing on next days program. Dinner on board the ship.

Evening: Tea/coffee served. Rest and relax or enjoy a documentary film presentation at the Saloon Bar.

Day 8
Sail Jangipur, Farakka, Samtaghat
Samtaghat B,L,D RV Bengal Ganga
Activity note: Early morning we will set sail towards the Farakka Barrage and cross over the lock gate by mid-day. Today is a full day sailing with no shore excursions as we sail towards Samtaghat, where we will moor overnight.

Breakfast: Early morning Tea/Coffee served. Breakfast on board in the dining room.

Morning: Early morning we sail along a feeder canal navigating up the Hoogly (Hugli) River (lower Ganges) towards Farakka. Traveling through the canal will give us a chance to see the different birds of the region. Late morning, we reach the Farakka Lock that was built during the years of 1963-75. The loch regulates the Ganges water into Bangladesh and India.

Lunch: On board the ship.

Afternoon: This afternoon we will sail on the Ganges towards Samtaghat. Enjoy cruising in Bihar State that borders Nepal. It is divided by the River Ganges, which floods its fertile plains. There is an alcohol ban in Bihar State and no liquor will be available on our rivercruise and land portion over the next few days until we reach Varanasi. Enjoy a presentation about Spirituality in India, led by our Group Leader.

Dinner: Evening briefing at the Saloon Bar for briefing on next days program. Dinner on board the ship.

Evening: Tea/Coffee served. Rest and relax or enjoy a documentary film presentation at the Saloon Bar. Moor overnight in Smtaghat.

Day 9
Vikramshila University, Sail towards Bateshwarstan
Bateshwar Sthan B,L,D RV Bengal Ganga
Activity note: Sail today from Samtaghat to Bateshwarsthan. En route we will have on-shore excursion to Vikramshila University. Disembark ship and board private vehicles (15 minute ride) to Vikramshila University; walking at ruins 1/4 mile, mainly flat surfaces with a few stairs. Moor for the night outside Bateshwarsthan.

Breakfast: Early morning Tea/Coffee served. Breakfast on board in the dining room.

Morning: On board, engage in a presentation by our riverboat chef on the herbs and spices used in Indian cooking.

Lunch: On board the ship.

Afternoon: After lunch, we drive by private vehicles to the excavation site of the Vikramshila University and walk around the ruins. Established by King Dharampala in late 8th or early 9th Century A.D. Vikramshila University was one of the two most important centers of Buddhist learning in India during the reign of the Pala dynasty along with Nalanda University. Vikramshila was one of the largest Buddhist universities having more than one hundred teachers and about one thousand students. Subjects like theology, philosophy, grammar, meta-physics and logic were taught here. We return to the ship and sail towards Bateshwarsthan.

Dinner: Evening briefing at the Saloon Bar for briefing on next days program. Dinner on board the ship.

Evening: Tea/Coffee served. Rest and relax or enjoy a film presentation at the Saloon Bar. We moor for the night outside of Bateshwarsthan near Bhagalpur.

Day 10
Cooking Demonstration, Sultanganj
Sultanganj B,L,D RV Bengal Ganga
Activity note: Early morning we will set sail Batesharsthan to Sultanganj. Today is a full day sailing with no shore excursions as we sail towards Sultanganj and mooring near there for the night.

Breakfast: Early morning Tea/Coffee served. Breakfast on board in the dining room.

Morning: Enjoy a cooking demonstration by the riverboat chef along with an Indian Attire wearing presentation - Sari & Turban.

Lunch: On board the ship.

Afternoon: This afternoon we will sail on the Ganges towards Munger, sailing past Sultanganj, which is conspicuous for two great rocks of granite, one of which on the river bank is crowned by a mosque. The second and larger one is occupied by the 16th century temple of Ajgaibinath Shiva. The river here impinges on a stone cliff. The folklore of river Ganga being seized here by a curse of the sage Jahnu and later getting released by the penance performed by king Bhagirath makes this place an important pilgrimage. The rocky island is known as Jahngira meaning ‘the hill of Jahnu’ derives the name from this historical event. There is a long causeway that connects the mainland with the island rock on which the cluster of shrines is entwined along with the seemingly floating rock. On deck, engage in a presentation on the Opium Trade, led by our Group Leader.

Dinner: Evening briefing at the Saloon Bar for briefing on next days program. Dinner on board the ship.

Evening: Tea/Coffee served. Rest and relax or enjoy a film presentation at the Saloon Bar. We moor for the night just past Sultanganj.

Day 11
Sail towards Munger, Bihar School of Yoga
Munger B,L,D RV Bengal Ganga
Activity note: Today we sail from Sultanganj Up to Munger, arriving mid-morning. Total walking today 1 mile, to and from the school. Moor overnight in Munger.

Breakfast: Early morning Tea/Coffee served. Breakfast on board in the dining room.

Morning: Sail towards Munger, one of the largest city and most industrialized cities in the state of Bihar. It is a hub for railway, gun, tobacco and dairy product manufacturing. Its history can be traced back to the mythological era of Ramayana and Mahabharata. In modern times Munger came into prominence in 1762 when the Nawab of Bengal Mir Qasim made Munger his capital instead of Murshidabad in Bengal. The new ruler established arsenal for the manufacture of firearms. Subsequently Munger came in to the hands of the British Empire after Mir Qasim lost the Battle of Buxar. The tradition of manufacturing of arms is continued till now.

Lunch: On board the ship.

Afternoon: After lunch, we visit the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger, a modern school of Yoga founded in 1964 by Satyananda Saraswati and his spiritual successor Niranjanananda Saraswati. In addition to providing spiritual instruction to aspirants, the school also guides yoga projects and medical research in association with various corporations, state government and public works. We will then return to the ship for our final night and farewell dinner on board.

Dinner: Evening briefing at the Saloon Bar for briefing on next days program. 'Farewell Dinner' on board the ship. Say farewell to the captain and crew.

Evening: Tea/Coffee served. Moor overnight in Munger. Pack and prepare to disembark the ship tomorrow morning.

Day 12
Disembark Ship in Munger, Depart for Bodhgaya
Bodh Gaya B,L,D The Royal Residency Bodhgaya
Activity note: Today is a long travel day that requires patience and stamina. The drive from Munger to Bodhgaya is 125 miles; approximately 8 hours with rest stops along the way.

Breakfast: Early morning breakfast on board the ship.

Morning: After breakfast, we will disembark ship and board a private motorcoach for our drive to Bodhgaya. Enjoy viewing the region of Bihar State that borders Nepal and its fertile plains south of the Ganges River.

Lunch: En-route at a local restaurant with bottled water, coffee/tea; additional beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Continue our drive to Bodh Gaya. Arrive in the late afternoon and check-in to the hotel to freshen up and relax.

Dinner: Hotel buffet with bottled water, coffee/tea; additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Tree, Sujata Village
Bodh Gaya B,L,D The Royal Residency Bodhgaya
Activity note: Motorcoach from hotel to Temple Mahabodhi less than 1 mile. Walking mainly on flat. level surfaces around temple grounds. Steps to entrance temples today are short and wide steps. Motorcoach to Sujata Village and Temple, across the Phalgu River, approximately a 20 minute drive.

Breakfast: Wake up early and experience the spiritual nature of Bodhgaya during the silence of the morning. Then return to the hotel to have breakfast.

Morning: We explore the Mahabodhi Temple, constructed with the main intention of making it a monument and not a receptacle for the relics of Buddha. Inside the Temple there is a colossal image of the Buddha in the "touching the ground pose", bhumisparsha mudra. This image is said to be 1700 years old and is facing east exactly at the place where the Buddha in meditation with his back to the Bodhi Tree was enlightened. Continue to the Bodhi Tree, the place where Gautama obtained enlightenment. Since 1953, Bodh Gaya has been developed as an international place of pilgrimage. Buddhists from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Tibet, Bhutan and Japan have established monasteries and temples within easy walking distance of the Mahabodhi compound. The site of the enlightenment now attracts Buddhists and visitors from all over the world.

Lunch: Hotel buffet.

Afternoon: Board our motorcoach and we depart for Sujata Village, located across the Phalgu River. Explore the Sujata Temple, dedicated to Sujata, a young woman, who fed rice milk to the emaciated Siddhartha Gautama, thus ending his years of harsh asceticism and beginning his return to a “middle path.” As we return to the hotel, we will drive past some the Thai, Japanese and Tibetan monasteries.

Dinner: Hotel buffet.

Evening: At leisure. Pack and prepare for our drive to Varanasi tomorrow morning.

Day 14
Depart for Varanasi, Aarti Ceremony on the Ganges
Varanasi B,L,D Rivatas
Activity note: The drive from Bodh Gaya to Varanasi is 158 miles (233km); approximately 6.5 hours with rest stops along the way. Varanasi is a very intense place. Please be prepared for lots of crowds, smokes from cremations along the Ganges River and narrow winding streets in the old part of town. Aarti Ceremony, requires getting in and out of small boats, walking along cobblestones on narrow streets, and walking about .5 miles (one way) to get to the ghats for the Aarti Ceremony in busy crowded streets.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and board our private motorcoach as we drive northwest towards Varanasi. We will pass over the Sone River, India's second largest of the Ganges' southern tributaries.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant en route with bottled water, coffee/tea; additional beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We arrive mid-afternoon in Varanasi and check-in to the hotel. Late afternoon we will take a rickshaw ride to the Ganges then board a boat to cruise and witness an Aarti Ceremony along the ghats (steps down to the water) of the Ganges River.(subject to weather conditions) We will be able to witness sacred Hindu religious of "puja" and "aarti". Puja refers to a variety of rites, one of which is aarti (also arti, arati), a ceremony in which light from little lamps with wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. Aarti also refers to the songs sung in praise of the deity when lamps are being offered.

Dinner: Hotel buffet with bottled water, coffee/tea; additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 15
Morning Boat Ride, Sitar Performance, Free Time
Varanasi B,L,D Rivatas
Activity note: Morning boat ride requires walking down the ghats (steps) to get to the Ganges River to board small boats to go out on the river. Must climb down and up ghats, approximately 20-40 steps, depending on the water level and get in/out of small boats. To get to the ghats also requires walking .5 miles in narrow cobblestone streets then taking a 30 minute rickshaw ride in busy crowded streets.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Before breakfast, begin the day very early with a morning boat ride on the Ganges River to observe people performing daily rituals, then see temples and ghats (steps leading down to the water), for which the city is well known. Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast enjoy a presentation at the hotel about the Current Social issues in India, led by a local expert. The rest of the morning is free time to do what interests you.

Lunch: Hotel buffet.

Afternoon: After lunch we depart by motorcoach to visit the home of professional musician and watch a classical Sitar performance. Later, we board the motorcoach and return to the hotel.

Dinner: 'Farewell Dinner' with one glass of wine, bottled water, coffee/tea included; additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure, pack for your departure home tomorrow.

Day 16
Sarnath, Program Concludes
In Flight B,L
Activity note: 12:00 p.m. hotel check-out. Coordinate airport transfers with our Group Leader today.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We check-out of hotel and depart by coach for Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first Sermon after he obtained enlightenment. Discover the Sarnath Museum and Deer Park, the location where he gave his sermon. After our field-trip we reboard the motorcoach and depart for the Varanasi Airport for afternoon departures home.

Lunch: At the airport.

Afternoon: Program concludes. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 17
In transit
In Flight

Day 1 Join trip in Delhi - city tour of New Delhi

Today we arrive in New Delhi, India's bustling capital. The city is the perfect blend of new and old, with monuments and temples hidden amongst its glittering skyscrapers. For those arriving in time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 1.30pm for a welcome meeting followed by a city tour. On our introduction to Delhi, we'll visit the imposing India Gate (war memorial arch), the Parliament buildings and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President's residence as well as Qutab Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. Our tour leader will be on hand in the evening to suggest dining options. Please note, if you'd like to join today's tour, you'll need to arrive at the hotel by 1.30pm. If you're organising your own travel, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport, plus at least 40 minutes to get to the hotel. To make it in time, the latest your flight can arrive would be around 11am. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), a 40-minute drive from our hotel.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Old Delhi rickshaw tour and visit to Agra Fort

Compared to New Delhi the Old City is much closer to the image conjured up by Rudyard Kipling. This morning, we'll hop in rickshaws to explore the old city's hub - the Chandni Chowk Bazaar, a jamboree of deafening barter and a wonderful introduction to the 'real' India. We'll also stop by two major sights nearby, the Jami Masjid Mosque and the Red Fort. Mid-morning, we'll head south from New Delhi to Agra, around a three-hour drive away. Here we'll visit Agra Fort, built by Akbar the Great, which contains the incomparable Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque). Before returning to the hotel, we'll get our first sight of the Taj Mahal in the evening light.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Early morning visit to Taj Mahal, rickshaw rise around Keoladeo Ghana National Park

This morning's early start rewards us with the spectacular sight of the sun rising over the Taj Mahal. Built more than 300 years ago, it's arguably the world's most poetic building and its beauty seems untouched by age. The Taj Mahal was created by Shah Jahan as a funerary monument to his favourite wife, Mumtaz, and the great Moghul was laid to rest next to her beneath the building's marble dome. Later in the day, we'll drive to the entrance of Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Once a royal duck-shooting reserve, the park is now an ornithologist's paradise, the 12 square miles of lakes and marshlands offer a safe habitat for large numbers of breeding waterbirds and migrants. More than 300 species have been sighted, among them herons, storks, geese, and the rare Siberian crane. We'll take a birdwatching tour by rickshaw to see some of these magnificent birds. After lunch, we'll continue our journey, driving to Karauli, via Mahuwa and Hindaun for a taste of rural India. Our drive will take approximately four hours but will be broken up with plenty of stops in local villages en route. While in Karauli, we'll step into the time of the Raj at a family-run heritage hotel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4 Explore Karauli with camel cart ride to Karauli Fort

Today we'll begin to explore the town. Founded in 1348, Karauli is a holy town that's famous for the pale red sandstone wall fortification that surrounds it. Legend has it that the ruling family were descendants of Lord Krishna, one of the most loved gods in Hindu mythology. We'll ride on camel-drawn carts from our hotel to the town's imposing 600-year-old palace. Used as a residence by the royal family until 1950, the palace has since been abandoned and is now occupied by monkeys and geese - it's said that the geese were once used as a warning system against any intruders.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 Drive to Pachewar and village visit

This morning, we'll set out on the four-hour drive to Pachewar, a small village that's famous for its cenotaphs, blue pottery kilns and metal toy makers. It's a lively place that was once ruled by the Khangarot Rajputs. The caretaker of Khandar, Thakur Anoop Singh Khangarot, captured the fort of Ranthambore from the captivity of the Marathas and annexed it to the state of Jaipur. While in Pachewar, we'll stay at another family-run heritage property, Pachewar Garh Fort. Built 300 years ago, the fort is a testament to its heritage with huge ramparts, turrets, and gates. The afternoon is free to explore the village, get closer to village life or maybe even watch locals in a game of cricket. In the evening, there'll be a puppet show held at the hotel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Full day in Pachewar with village walk, cooking lesson and farm visit

This morning, we'll head out on foot to visit the local temple and a village home, where we'll have a cooking demonstration to learn about Rajasthani cuisine. Later in the afternoon, we'll head to a farm, giving us more opportunity to connect with the local way of life and rural India. Afterwards, the afternoon is free to unwind at our heritage fort and get dressed up in traditional Indian costume before dinner.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Drive to Jaipur for afternoon tour of the Pink City

After breakfast, we'll drive for three hours to Jaipur. Known as the 'Pink City', Jaipur was first painted terracotta pink by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh to celebrate the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. On arrival, we'll visit City Palace, where we'll find a fine collection of textiles and costumes and the Palace of the Winds, a five-story façade that you might have already spotted on souvenir postcards. This is also home to Jantar Mantar, a stargazing observatory built by Jai Singh, the great Maharaja-astronomer. In the evening, there's an optional puppet show at the hotel, or you might like to take in a famous Bollywood movie at the Raj Mandir, an art-deco style cinema where the locals cheer on their favourite movie stars.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8 Full day in Jaipur with visit to the Amber Palace and Fortress

Today, we'll take a short drive to the foot of the Amber Palace, an impressive hilltop fortress that's home to the Chamber of Mirrors and affords astounding views of the surrounding plains. After our visit to the palace, we'll return to Jaipur for a free afternoon exploring the Pink City at your own pace.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 9 Return to Delhi via Samode Palace

After a leisurely breakfast, we'll bid farewell to Jaipur and drive back to Delhi. It's a long drive of around six to seven hours but we'll break it up with a stop at Samode Palace in the Aravalli Hills. Blending elements of Mughal traditional architecture, this 475-year-old former royal residence is a treasure trove awaiting to be explored with twisting narrow stone staircases, lavish mosaics, fountains, and hidden courtyards. We'll tour the grounds by camel cart and have lunch at the palace before continuing our journey and arriving into New Delhi in the early evening.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Lunch

Day 10 Tour ends in New Delhi

Our tour of India's Golden Triangle ends at our hotel in Delhi. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 1 Join tour in Delhi; city tour of New Delhi

Arrive in New Delhi, India's bustling capital which successfully combines the ancient with the modern. Amidst the tall and modern skyscrapers, there are still the remnants of a bygone time with numerous monuments and temples. For those arriving on time today our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 1.30pm for the welcome meeting and to take us on our afternoon city tour which will visit the imposing India Gate (war memorial arch), the Parliament buildings and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President's residence as well as Qutab Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. Our Leader will be on hand in the evening to suggest evening dining options. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport (airport code DEL), which is 18km, around 40 minutes from our hotel. Please note that if you wish to join the city tour today, you must arrive at the hotel by 1.30pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport. From the airport to the hotel is around 40 minutes' drive, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 11am. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Old Delhi sightseeing by rickshaw; drive to Agra and visit the Agra Fort

Compared to New Delhi the Old City is much closer to the image conjured up by Rudyard Kipling. We travel by cycle rickshaw to its hub at Chandni Chowk Bazaar, a jamboree of deafening barter and a wonderful introduction to the 'real' India. The major sights nearby are the Jami Masjid Mosque and we pass by the Red Fort on our way out of the city. Mid-morning, head south from New Delhi to Agra, a bus journey of approximately three hours. In the afternoon we plan to visit Agra Fort, built by Akbar the Great, which contains the incomparable Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque). Before returning to the hotel we will get our first sight of the Taj Mahal in the evening light.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Early morning visit to the Taj Mahal. Visit Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Continue to Kalakho to stay in a heritage hotel

This morning we aim to visit the Taj Mahal, the world's most perfect and poetic building, at sunrise. Over 300 years have elapsed since its construction, yet it stands today unscarred by age; its beauty and symmetry seemingly beyond man, time and space. Created by Shah Jahan as a funerary monument to his favourite wife, Mumtaz, it took 22 years to build (1630-52). The Great Moghul lies beside his beloved under the white marble dome. Inlaid with precious gems, the building cost a fortune. Later Shah Jahan moved his capital to Delhi before being overthrown by his son, Aurangzeb. Later in the day, we drive to the entrance of Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Formerly a royal duck-shooting reserve and now an ornithologist's paradise, the 12 square miles of lakes and marshlands offer a safe habitat for large numbers of breeding waterbirds and migrants. More than 300 species have been sighted, among them herons, storks, geese and the huge and rare Siberian crane. We will be taken on a birdwatching tour by cycle rickshaw and we hope to see some of these magnificent birds. After lunch we drive to Kalakho, a drive of around two hours. The small village of Kalakho is set to the backdrop of the rolling Aravalli Hills and is historically home to the Meena people. The pace of the trip slows as we stay two nights at a family run heritage hotel, Umaid Palace. This former hunting lodge has been tastefully converted into a rural retreat and retains a small, family-run charm. After checking in, the rest of the day is free to relax in the gardens or take a walk around the nearby farmlands and village.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Full day in Kalakho, rural Rajasthan. Explore the village by camel and take part in a cookery demonstration

This morning we head out exploring the village by camel cart, visiting the local temple and meeting the colourfully dressed villagers herding their goats and farming in the surrounding fields. We'll see and learn about turban weaving and saree tying, and we'll end in a local meena house where we are invited in for a cup of masala chai served in traditionally-made mud sakora cups. This afternoon has been left free to relax around the pool before we receive a cookery demonstration this evening before dinner. Here we learn about how Indian flat breads are prepared and cooked in the tandoor, along with the secrets of blending the perfect spice mix. After the dinner there will be the chance to watch (and participate!) in a Bollywood dance session.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Drive to Ranthabore National Park, home of the Bengal Tiger

Today we take to the rural roads on our drive to Ranthambore National Park. The drive will take approximately four to five hours, and passes many rural villages along the way, giving us a taste of village life in this quieter part of India. Upon reaching our hotel, the rest of the afternoon has been left free to relax within the grounds of the hotel and perhaps take a swim in the pool.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 6 Morning and afternoon game drives in Ranthambore in search for tigers

Ranthambore is one of the best examples of the country's tiger conservation projects. The best chance of sightings is between September and May. During this period water is scarce and the animals must stay close to the lakes and river. It is little wonder that this was once one of the best hunting areas of the Maharajahs. We include a game drive this morning into the Reserve, in search of the wildlife which, as well as tiger, includes sloth bear, langur, jackal and fox as well as crested hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, jacana, parakeet and white-breasted kingfisher. The park itself is very picturesque with lakes, rivers and forests surrounded by steep cliffs and rocky outcrops. In the afternoon there is another opportunity to do a game drive to get a chance to see more wildlife and views. The vehicles used for game drives are open top jeeps, with 6 seats and ideal for spotting wildlife. Due to regulations aimed at keeping traffic to a minimum in the parks we cannot guarantee exclusive use of the jeeps so you may be sharing with non-Explore customers. Please note that because the jeeps can only accommodate 6 people there is a chance we may have to split family groups up, this will depend entirely on the make up of your group and we will avoid this wherever possible.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 Optional morning game drive, then drive to Jaipur, afternoon tour of the Pink City.

Early this morning there will be the chance to take another game drive, and then after breakfast we drive to Jaipur. Taking about three hours, there is always something new or different to see along the roadside in rural India. Sometimes called the Pink City, Jaipur was first painted terracotta pink by Maharajah Sawai Ram Singh to celebrate the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. This afternoon we will take a city tour with our Explore tour leader. We will visit the lavish and well preserved City Palace with its fine collection of textiles, costumes and armoury and the Palace of the Winds, a 5-storied façade (built about 1760) which has been the subject of countless Indian posters. Jai Singh, the great Maharaja astronomer, built his extraordinary (and very accurate) stargazing Observatory here. The Old City has several fine gates let into the pink walls, and there are many opportunities for photos and shopping. There is an optional puppet show at the hotel this evening or you may wish to see a Bollywood movie at the local cinema.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8 Full day in Jaipur. Visit the Amber Palace and Fortress.

Today, we drive the short distance to the foot of Amber Palace and drive up to the gateway. This impressive hilltop fortress possesses what must be the world's finest Chamber of Mirrors and also affords glorious views of the surrounding plains. We will visit the palace after which we will return to Jaipur. Sometimes called the Pink City, Jaipur's palaces and fortified walls were first painted terracotta pink by Maharajah Swai Ram Singh to celebrate the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. This afternoon has been left free to explore more of Jaipur in your own time. You may choose to visit one of the famous bazaars which are bursting with delights, from marble statues to antique textiles; traditional print blocks to local musical instruments.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 9 Return to Delhi stopping at Samode Palace outside Jaipur for camel cart tour and lunch.

After a leisurely breakfast bid farewell to Jaipur, driving back to Delhi. An hour north east of Jaipur we make a stop at Samode Palace in the Aravalli hills. Blending elements of Mughal traditional architecture, this 475 year old former royal residence is a treasure trove awaiting to be explored with twisting narrow stone staircases, lavish mosaics, fountains and hidden courtyards. We have a tour of the grounds on a camel cart and have lunch (included) at the palace before continuing our journey by bus to the modern Gurugram district of New Delhi, next to the airport; arriving early evening.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Lunch

Day 10 Tour ends in New Delhi

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in New Delhi. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from New Delhi at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport (airport code DEL), which is 8km, around 20 minutes from the hotel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast